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Released yesterday to rent/buy.
A Sundance winning documentary about...well...child abuse, the cause and effects and all the surrounding issues. Or is it?
Intially a documentary about clowns in New York, the director Andrew Jarecki realised that the number 1 children's clown had a lot of issues and anger and "wanted to talk about them but needed a long time to find it comfortable enough to begin"
What follows is brutal, draining, sickening, heartwrenching and ultimately an extremely difficult film to watch.
Now, I know some of you will immediately rush to find it thinking "Cool!!" - the same sort of people that want to watch uncensored Japanese horror etc because it's "hardcore" etc - because of the extremely uncomprimising nature of this.
But please, if you're one of those people then go watch a fiction movie filled with sexual violence and murder.
Why is it so difficult and uncomfortable to watch?
Arnold Friedman is initially charged with owning child pornography, but it rapidly spirals into multiple charges (300+) of child sex abuse, torture and viscious assaults on 30+ kids he tutored in a computer class run in his home - Arnold Friedman was a highly respected award-winning computer science teacher so don't go jumping to conclusions.
And his 19yr old son Jessie is implicated as well with over 250 charges.
You see the media circus that surrounds these sorts of cases (and Brasseye nailed 100% in the hysteria environment), police investigators are interviewed, lawyers etc.
But The Friedmans decided to video what happened in their home whilst this went on, as a document of the time.
And this allows you a view we're never presented with, what it's like inside the fishbowl with an entire community and media on a witch-hunt.
I won't discuss any details of this documentary, as it needs to unfurl before you to have an effect.
It's not what you think it's going to be, an impassionate tone where you never see the director or crew etc, it's not about them.
It's about watching The Friedman family shatter from secrets, lies and half-truths.
90 minutes that felt like 4hrs, and when it was over I sat there smoking and thinking "....ummm....".
I'll let you form your own opinion.
But please, just because it deals with a difficult subject and does so holding no punches, don't rent it with a bunch of mates and rewind over the "cool" parts, it's not that sort of film and you should be mature enough to deal with it.
Nor should you watch if you're a Daily Mail reader who sees the world in black and white, because you'll break your mind trying to deal with this film.
Is it easy viewing? No. Is it a lighthearted docu-soap? No. Is it a semi-comical "Hey ain't these folks odd!!!!". Not at all. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely not.
But I think you should watch it because it'll challenge you.
I need to go sit and think some more about this and watch the extras.
A Sundance winning documentary about...well...child abuse, the cause and effects and all the surrounding issues. Or is it?
Intially a documentary about clowns in New York, the director Andrew Jarecki realised that the number 1 children's clown had a lot of issues and anger and "wanted to talk about them but needed a long time to find it comfortable enough to begin"
What follows is brutal, draining, sickening, heartwrenching and ultimately an extremely difficult film to watch.
Now, I know some of you will immediately rush to find it thinking "Cool!!" - the same sort of people that want to watch uncensored Japanese horror etc because it's "hardcore" etc - because of the extremely uncomprimising nature of this.
But please, if you're one of those people then go watch a fiction movie filled with sexual violence and murder.
Why is it so difficult and uncomfortable to watch?
Arnold Friedman is initially charged with owning child pornography, but it rapidly spirals into multiple charges (300+) of child sex abuse, torture and viscious assaults on 30+ kids he tutored in a computer class run in his home - Arnold Friedman was a highly respected award-winning computer science teacher so don't go jumping to conclusions.
And his 19yr old son Jessie is implicated as well with over 250 charges.
You see the media circus that surrounds these sorts of cases (and Brasseye nailed 100% in the hysteria environment), police investigators are interviewed, lawyers etc.
But The Friedmans decided to video what happened in their home whilst this went on, as a document of the time.
And this allows you a view we're never presented with, what it's like inside the fishbowl with an entire community and media on a witch-hunt.
I won't discuss any details of this documentary, as it needs to unfurl before you to have an effect.
It's not what you think it's going to be, an impassionate tone where you never see the director or crew etc, it's not about them.
It's about watching The Friedman family shatter from secrets, lies and half-truths.
90 minutes that felt like 4hrs, and when it was over I sat there smoking and thinking "....ummm....".
I'll let you form your own opinion.
But please, just because it deals with a difficult subject and does so holding no punches, don't rent it with a bunch of mates and rewind over the "cool" parts, it's not that sort of film and you should be mature enough to deal with it.
Nor should you watch if you're a Daily Mail reader who sees the world in black and white, because you'll break your mind trying to deal with this film.
Is it easy viewing? No. Is it a lighthearted docu-soap? No. Is it a semi-comical "Hey ain't these folks odd!!!!". Not at all. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely not.
But I think you should watch it because it'll challenge you.
I need to go sit and think some more about this and watch the extras.
Watched this on Film Four the other night (on all this week at 10pm) and it was an awesomely good documentary. I don't really have much to add to what has already been said about it, but it's definitely worth watching to see just how hysteria can distort and obscure the truth.
POP
Yeah I used to own the Region 1 but sold it when I decided it's not a film I'd want to keep coming back to. It's a very powerful documentary and the fact that it came to be because of a film on clowns makes you think about all the other possible hidden stories out there.
Have you ever seen Hoop Dreams?
Have you ever seen Hoop Dreams?
Watched the extras, specifically the "The Case" section and I'm bloody angry.
It doesn't change the facts of the documentary regarding certain aspects, but it does highlight the stupidity and "Buuuuuuuuuuuurn scum" mentality that grips society when crimes of these nature are discussed.
Even one of the policewomen says "Even suggesting that somebody is guilty of these crimes is enough to ruin their lives, so you have to be careful".
And it continues today with the "Child Sex Monsters!!!!" stories you read about in the lower-end papers that suggest every single stranger is a maniac waiting to do hideous things. The hysteria, the assumed guilt, the willingness to automatically think "Well there's no smoke without fire" in these sorts of cases...jesus...
I really suggest you rent or buy this documentary, and sit down to watch with an open mind. I approached with a "Innocent family accused and clearing their name" mindset, automatically assuming it was another story about miscarriages of justice. And it is, in a way. But it also made me confront my own prejudices and assumptions about how I think.
It forces you to deal with issues and emotions that are usually buried in some primordial disgust and taboo coda.
Are these two people guilty? Did they do it? Why would 30+ kids lie if it wasn't true? Did the police "steer" these kids into false confessions, to build a case based on only one or two intial pieces of evidence?
Remember, Arnold Friedman was charged with owning a child pornographic magazine. Which is a heinous enough crime, but how the hell did it descend into allegations of over 300+ charges of repeated, brutal and pyschotic sexual abuse of groups of children, in large quantities at a time - and how did his son get pulled in?
It's...I don't know...try to watch it and post what you think.
One thing's for certain, nothing is black and white here. You think you're presented with the truth, but then something else comes along and blows your previous beliefs out of the window. Then once again comes a new situation that swings you back 180 degrees again.
It doesn't change the facts of the documentary regarding certain aspects, but it does highlight the stupidity and "Buuuuuuuuuuuurn scum" mentality that grips society when crimes of these nature are discussed.
Even one of the policewomen says "Even suggesting that somebody is guilty of these crimes is enough to ruin their lives, so you have to be careful".
And it continues today with the "Child Sex Monsters!!!!" stories you read about in the lower-end papers that suggest every single stranger is a maniac waiting to do hideous things. The hysteria, the assumed guilt, the willingness to automatically think "Well there's no smoke without fire" in these sorts of cases...jesus...
I really suggest you rent or buy this documentary, and sit down to watch with an open mind. I approached with a "Innocent family accused and clearing their name" mindset, automatically assuming it was another story about miscarriages of justice. And it is, in a way. But it also made me confront my own prejudices and assumptions about how I think.
It forces you to deal with issues and emotions that are usually buried in some primordial disgust and taboo coda.
Are these two people guilty? Did they do it? Why would 30+ kids lie if it wasn't true? Did the police "steer" these kids into false confessions, to build a case based on only one or two intial pieces of evidence?
Remember, Arnold Friedman was charged with owning a child pornographic magazine. Which is a heinous enough crime, but how the hell did it descend into allegations of over 300+ charges of repeated, brutal and pyschotic sexual abuse of groups of children, in large quantities at a time - and how did his son get pulled in?
It's...I don't know...try to watch it and post what you think.
One thing's for certain, nothing is black and white here. You think you're presented with the truth, but then something else comes along and blows your previous beliefs out of the window. Then once again comes a new situation that swings you back 180 degrees again.
Released yesterday to rent/buy.
A Sundance winning documentary about...well...child abuse, the cause and effects and all the surrounding issues. Or is it?
Intially a documentary about clowns in New York, the director Andrew Jarecki realised that the number 1 children's clown had a lot of issues and anger and "wanted to talk about them but needed a long time to find it comfortable enough to begin"
What follows is brutal, draining, sickening, heartwrenching and ultimately an extremely difficult film to watch.
Now, I know some of you will immediately rush to find it thinking "Cool!!" - the same sort of people that want to watch uncensored Japanese horror etc because it's "hardcore" etc - because of the extremely uncomprimising nature of this.
But please, if you're one of those people then go watch a fiction movie filled with sexual violence and murder.
Why is it so difficult and uncomfortable to watch?
Arnold Friedman is initially charged with owning child pornography, but it rapidly spirals into multiple charges (300+) of child sex abuse, torture and viscious assaults on 30+ kids he tutored in a computer class run in his home - Arnold Friedman was a highly respected award-winning computer science teacher so don't go jumping to conclusions.
And his 19yr old son Jessie is implicated as well with over 250 charges.
You see the media circus that surrounds these sorts of cases (and Brasseye nailed 100% in the hysteria environment), police investigators are interviewed, lawyers etc.
But The Friedmans decided to video what happened in their home whilst this went on, as a document of the time.
And this allows you a view we're never presented with, what it's like inside the fishbowl with an entire community and media on a witch-hunt.
I won't discuss any details of this documentary, as it needs to unfurl before you to have an effect.
It's not what you think it's going to be, an impassionate tone where you never see the director or crew etc, it's not about them.
It's about watching The Friedman family shatter from secrets, lies and half-truths.
90 minutes that felt like 4hrs, and when it was over I sat there smoking and thinking "....ummm....".
I'll let you form your own opinion.
But please, just because it deals with a difficult subject and does so holding no punches, don't rent it with a bunch of mates and rewind over the "cool" parts, it's not that sort of film and you should be mature enough to deal with it.
Nor should you watch if you're a Daily Mail reader who sees the world in black and white, because you'll break your mind trying to deal with this film.
Is it easy viewing? No. Is it a lighthearted docu-soap? No. Is it a semi-comical "Hey ain't these folks odd!!!!". Not at all. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely not.
But I think you should watch it because it'll challenge you.
I need to go sit and think some more about this and watch the extras.
A Sundance winning documentary about...well...child abuse, the cause and effects and all the surrounding issues. Or is it?
Intially a documentary about clowns in New York, the director Andrew Jarecki realised that the number 1 children's clown had a lot of issues and anger and "wanted to talk about them but needed a long time to find it comfortable enough to begin"
What follows is brutal, draining, sickening, heartwrenching and ultimately an extremely difficult film to watch.
Now, I know some of you will immediately rush to find it thinking "Cool!!" - the same sort of people that want to watch uncensored Japanese horror etc because it's "hardcore" etc - because of the extremely uncomprimising nature of this.
But please, if you're one of those people then go watch a fiction movie filled with sexual violence and murder.
Why is it so difficult and uncomfortable to watch?
Arnold Friedman is initially charged with owning child pornography, but it rapidly spirals into multiple charges (300+) of child sex abuse, torture and viscious assaults on 30+ kids he tutored in a computer class run in his home - Arnold Friedman was a highly respected award-winning computer science teacher so don't go jumping to conclusions.
And his 19yr old son Jessie is implicated as well with over 250 charges.
You see the media circus that surrounds these sorts of cases (and Brasseye nailed 100% in the hysteria environment), police investigators are interviewed, lawyers etc.
But The Friedmans decided to video what happened in their home whilst this went on, as a document of the time.
And this allows you a view we're never presented with, what it's like inside the fishbowl with an entire community and media on a witch-hunt.
I won't discuss any details of this documentary, as it needs to unfurl before you to have an effect.
It's not what you think it's going to be, an impassionate tone where you never see the director or crew etc, it's not about them.
It's about watching The Friedman family shatter from secrets, lies and half-truths.
90 minutes that felt like 4hrs, and when it was over I sat there smoking and thinking "....ummm....".
I'll let you form your own opinion.
But please, just because it deals with a difficult subject and does so holding no punches, don't rent it with a bunch of mates and rewind over the "cool" parts, it's not that sort of film and you should be mature enough to deal with it.
Nor should you watch if you're a Daily Mail reader who sees the world in black and white, because you'll break your mind trying to deal with this film.
Is it easy viewing? No. Is it a lighthearted docu-soap? No. Is it a semi-comical "Hey ain't these folks odd!!!!". Not at all. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely not.
But I think you should watch it because it'll challenge you.
I need to go sit and think some more about this and watch the extras.